This April, we brought Members together to explore and learn from Innovation City Belfast. We work with our Member innovation districts and knowledge quarters to deliver the study visits bi-annually and the trips are always a popular addition to the UK Innovation Districts Group (UKIDG) activity programme. Why? Because, as a peer network we get most value from learning together, supporting each other, and sharing experiences and expertise in the places and with the people that are doing the doing.
This is the second time we have taken Members to Belfast. The first time was four years ago and it was evident to everyone who returned with us, just how much progress has been made since our last visit, and interesting to consider how a shift in funding might have expedited that change and influenced the focus on inclusive innovation. To quote a recent post by KQ Liverpool‘s Emiliy Robson, “It was clear how much transformation the Belfast Region City Deal has unlocked and also the focus on inclusive innovation.” The evolution of governance structures and the impact of devolved administrations is certainly something we are seeing as drivers for change across our Member Districts, and the visit to Innovation City Belfast and specifically the up close experience of the partnership between Belfast Harbour and Catalyst Innovation Centre, really brought this learning to life.
Key themes examined on the visit included an exploration into our host’s approach to translating innovation across sectors and industries. This is of particular interest to our Member Districts, who may have started with a specialism in one industry, perhaps born out of the place based talent and research assets located there, and who are now finding a pull to diversify, as their sector specialisms evolve. Innovation City Belfast demonstrated brilliantly how to achieve this transition by drawing on existing strengths. For example; how security and crowd safety monitoring tech is being applied to animal welfare and farm management with the development of FlockFocus; and gaming and deep tech is being transferred to high end film and TV visual production techniques. This led to further discussion and analysis of the roles our creative industries play across place based innovation districts and the power of positioning these as the new ‘heavy industries’ in our frontier economy.
Proactive inclusive innovation was high on the list of learning points for the visit as we delved into a range of approaches underway to deliver this regional priority. Amongst other useful case studies, we learnt about Innovation City Belfast’s grand challenge on ‘Housing and Homelessness’ and a ‘SURF project’ (Skills for Urban and Rural Futures). It was also clear that significant inroads were being made when it came to breaking down barriers and improving community integration through the use of dedicated PeacePlus collaborative R&D projects.
Another focal point of the visit that initiated much discussion and reflection amongst Members, was the importance of growing entrepreneurs locally and the increasing need to understand AIDEs (AI Driven Enterprises) alongside Innovation Driven Enterprises (IDEs) and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This led us to examine more deeply, the role of innovation districts in supporting entrepreneurialism, regional economic growth and the transformation of places (often critical success measures of Innovation districts and knowledge quarters).
Of the study visit, Emma Frost, Chair of UK Innovation Districts Group, said: “The increasing depth, maturity and scale of investment into Innovation City Belfast over the last few years is truly impressive. It was wonderful to bring our Members back to see this first hand, and to learn from the Belfast team driving the change – a huge thanks to our hosts and speakers .”
You can learn more about Innovation City Belfast via their website and if you’re someone that works in place based innovation and would like to learn more about our study visits or the wider programme of activities we deliver for UK IDG Members, email us at hello@ukinnovationsdistricts.co.uk.